SBLive’s Top 25 in Ohio high school boys basketball: Undefeated Gahanna Lincoln rises to the top
By Sam Houseworth | Photo by Jeff Harwell
The holidays are over, and many of our Top 25 teams return from destinations across the country.
In these prestigious tournaments, the state of Ohio performed very well, finishing with winning records against nationally ranked opposition.
But now that the new year is here, conference play will ramp up and we will start to see the cream rise to the top.
SBLIVE'S OHIO TOP 25
1. Gahanna Lincoln (8-0)
Two weeks ago: 2
A pair of blowout wins move the Lions to the top of the SBLIve Top 25. GLHS began the holidays with an 81-46 win over Dohn, followed by a 65-35 win over Licking Heights. Marquette commit Sean Jones averaged 17.5 points per game in the two contests. The new year begins at Grove City this Friday and at home against Pick Central in a top 5 battle.
2. St. Vincent-St. Mary, Akron (3-2)
Two weeks ago: 1
Despite an underwhelming record, the Irish are still among the best teams in the state and proved that standing with a 72-56 win over preseason D-IV favorite Richmond Heights. STVM will host South Oak Cliff and Archbishop Carroll (Pa.) this weekend in the Full Court Press Invitational.
3. Centerville (6-0)
Two weeks ago: 3
The Elks needed to shake off some rust against Wayne this past week. Centerville trailed 13-11 after the first quarter, but would hunker down and come away with its fifth conference win of the season, 53-46. Three-point sniper Rich Rolf led the way with 23 points. The Elks head to Springboro on Tuesday, followed by a trip to Virginia for the Chance Harman Classic on Saturday versus Blue Ridge (St. George, Va.)
4. Brush, Lyndhurst (7-1)
Two weeks ago: 6
Elmore James led all Arcs in scoring with 22 points as they steamrolled East Tech 81-33 last Tuesday night. Brush took a 43-15 lead into halftime and never looked back, clearly turning the corner since its loss to St. Edward earlier this season. The Arcs will face Gilmour Academy on Saturday at Cleveland Heights.
5. Pickerington Central (7-1)
Two weeks ago: 4
Junior Devin Royal improved his stock with two impressive performances over the holidays. The three-star recruit led the Tigers with 15 in their 65-52 win over Woodward, then put up 27 against Mentor in a 67-58 victory. The Tigers head on the road with games at Lancaster and top-ranked Gahanna Lincoln this weekend.
6. Fairfield (9-1)
Two weeks ago: 5
Another undefeated bites the dust in the most heartbreaking fashion. The Indians lost 64-61 on a last-second three by St. X. Since that loss, Fairfield has tallied wins against Wayne and Ross. The Indians host Sycamore on Tuesday then hit the road against Oak Hills on Friday.
7. Lakota East (7-2)
Two weeks ago: 7
This past week, the Thunderhawks headed to Miami for the Junior Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. They finished second in the eight-team tournament, opening with a win over host Westminster Christian. Wednesday, they defeated St. Raymond (N.Y.) in the semifinals before falling to defending Mississippi state champion Madison Ridgeland in the championship. Back in Ohio, Lakota East heads to Princeton on Tuesday before their first home game in 3½ weeks vs. Colerain on Friday.
8. Kettering Fairmont (9-1)
Two weeks ago: Unranked
While many teams took trips or rested, the Firebirds found another gear during winter break. They won all three of their contests by 30 points or more these past two weeks. The most impressive came against Springfield, which they defeated 87-36 on Monday night. Kettering Fairmont will host Wayne on Tuesday, followed by Beavercreek on Friday.
9. Archbishop Moeller, Cincinnati (8-2)
Two weeks ago: 10
The Crusaders spent the holidays in San Antonio for the Marianist Classic. While in the Lone Star State, Moeller finished a perfect 3-0, defeating host San Antonio Central Catholic in the championship game, 68-39. The Crusaders were led by Penn State commit Evan Mahaffey, who averaged 14.3 points per game including 23 in the championship game. Moeller will head to Elder on Friday before hosting Ponitz Tech on Saturday.
10. St. Edward, Lakewood (5-2)
Two weeks ago: 8
The only game on the Eagles’ schedule over the winter break resulted in a 67-63 loss at Reynoldsburg back on Tuesday the 21st. Senior Michael Bova’s career-high 32 points were not enough for the Eagles to hold off a red-hot Reynoldsburg team. St. Edward will be back on Jan. 14 for the BK Classic in Erie, Pennsylvania.
11. Beechcroft, Columbus (5-1)
Two weeks ago: 13
The lone winter break game for the Cougars was a New Year's Day shootout against Independence, which Beechcroft won 92-62. The Cougars were led by senior JJ Simmons with 23 points, while Amani Lyles tallied 17 points and eight boards. Beechcroft has a busy week ahead with Whetstone, Linden McKinley and Hilliard Bradley all in a five-day span.
12. Dublin Jerome (7-1)
Two weeks ago: Unranked
Since an opening-weekend loss to St. Charles Prep, the Celtics have been getting better and better with each passing week. They had a 30-plus-point win over Marysville, a 45-point win over Bellefontaine, and a pair of 30-plus-point wins over Dublin Scioto and Bishop Hartley over the winter break. The Celtics will look to ride their hot streak when they host Olentangy and head to St. Marys this weekend.
13. Buchtel, Akron (6-2)
Two weeks ago: 12
The Griffs spent their winter break at the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach. They opened the trip with an impressive upset of Real Salt Lake Academy, en route to a third-place finish in the eight-team tournament. Junior Khoi Thurmon earned first-team all-tournament honors. The Griffs are back home on Friday when they host Garfield.
14. Archbishop Alter, Kettering (7-2)
Two weeks ago: 20
The Knights spent the holidays in Charleston, South Carolina, for the Carolina Invitational where they finished runner-up in the eight-team tournament to Providence Day (N.C.) The Knights are back in action Tuesday against McNicholas.
15. St Xavier, Cincinnati (6-2)
Two weeks ago: 9
The Bombers kicked off the holidays with a thrilling buzzer-beater by Jonny Vanover to knock off previously undefeated Fairfield. St. X would head to Orlando for the Rock Holiday Classic, finishing 1-2 in the six-team invitational. The Bombers jump right back into conference play Friday when they host La Salle, followed by a trip to Indian Hill on Saturday.
16. Woodward, Cincinnati (8-1)
Two weeks ago: 15
Winter break was a mixed bag for the Bulldogs. Woodward fell to Pick Central 65-52 before Christmas, ending their undefeated start to the season. They came back from Christmas fired up, as they would steamroll over two Toledo schools, Scott and Rogers, in the Bulldog Bettis Classic. The Bulldogs are back on Saturday when they head up north to Dunbar.
17. Taft, Cincinnati (5-2)
Two weeks ago: 22
It was also a mixed bag for the Senators during the winter break. They smoked McNicholas 50-26, led by Mekhi Elmore’s 22 points. The following day, they fell to Highlands (Ft. Thomas, Ky.) 76-71.
18. Upper Arlington (9-0)
Two weeks ago: 16
The Golden Bears keep riding along, tallying up win after win. They added three more W’s tduring these past two weeks with victories against Newark Catholic, Groveport Madison and Waverly. Senior Quinn Corna leads the team, averaging 21 points per game this season. The Golden Bears are on the road this week again Hilliard Darby on Tuesday and Dublin Coffman on Friday.
19. Hilliard Bradley (6-3)
Two weeks ago: Unranked
After a 2-3 start, the Jaguars have won four straight heading into the new year. Sophomore Cade Norris has been the spark in the recent success, averaging 16.2 points per game. The Jaguars get a challenging docket to open the new year with road games against Olentangy Orange and Beechcroft this weekend.
20. Pickerington North (6-1)
Two weeks ago: 14
When the season is said and done, nobody in central Ohio is going to have a tougher schedule than the Panthers. After opening with St. Vincent-St. Mary and Pick Central, things got easy for Pick North. However, January is going to be a gauntlet. The Panthers open Tuesday with Reynoldsburg, then must face Upper Arlington and Gahanna Lincoln back-to-back on the road. This will be a battle-tested team come playoff time.
21. Westerville South (8-0)
Two weeks ago: 17
Senior Drey Carter continues to be the heart and soul of this undefeated Wildcats squad. The Wright State commit scored 29 in a come-from-behind win over Hilliard Davidson last Monday, improving the Wildcats to 8-0. South hosts Canal Winchester on Friday before heading across town to face rival Westerville Central on Saturday.
22. Westerville North (6-3)
Two weeks ago: 21
The Warriors are a perfect 6-0 against teams outside of the SBLive Top 25. However, they are 0-3 against teams currently within the SBLive Top 25. If the Warriors want to stick around in the rankings, they are going to have to win games against quality opponents. They have Big Walnut scheduled Friday.
23. Green, Uniontown (9-1)
Two weeks ago: Unranked
The Bulldogs have established themselves as the team to beat in the Federal League. Over the past two weeks, Green has tallied four wins against solid competition: Richmond Heights, Olentangy Liberty, Solon and Hoban. And things don’t get any easier with Canton McKinley on Tuesday and GlenOak on Friday this week.
24. Ottawa-Glandorf (6-0)
Two weeks ago: 18
The Titans remain on top of the Western Buckeye League heading into the new year. This past week, they handled Eastwood and Bowling Green with ease. After their home game Tuesday against Liberty Center, O-G will face their biggest challenge in the WBL on Friday, on the road against St. Marys.
25. St. Ignatius, Cleveland (5-3)
Two weeks ago: 19
After a 2½ week layoff, the Wildcats traveled to California for the Xavier Winter Showcase. The Wildcats won three games in four days, with their only loss being to Liberty (Nevada). The Wildcats head to Cleveland Heights on Saturday for their first in-state contest in nearly a month.
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